emoji_events Best Biography

Hosted by historians Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook, this podcast is a masterclass in balancing academic rigor with genuine entertainment. The hosts possess an incredible chemistry, tackling everyt...

Ron Chernow's biography of Alexander Hamilton revitalized interest in the Founding Father, providing a comprehensive and nuanced portrait of a brilliant, complex, and often contradictory figure. The b...

The Maysles brothers portrait of Big Edie and Little Edie, the reclusive relatives of Jackie Kennedy living in a decaying mansion, is a landmark in character-driven documentary. It is both a tragic lo...

Trevor Noahs memoir about growing up in apartheid South Africa is a masterclass in audiobook performance. Because Noah is a comedian and a master of accents and languages, he brings his own story to l...

Steve Jobs was a visionary entrepreneur and designer who co-founded Apple. He was instrumental in the development of the personal computer, the graphical user interface, and the modern smartphone. Thr...

Doris Kearns Goodwins masterpiece examines Abraham Lincolns presidency through the lens of his cabinet, which was composed of his former political rivals. The book illustrates Lincolns extraordinary e...

This masterpiece follows Jiro Ono, an 85-year-old sushi master and owner of Sukiyabashi Jiro. The film is a meditative study on the pursuit of perfection, discipline, and the complex relationship betw...

Senna is a gripping documentary chronicling the life and career of Brazilian Formula One racing driver Ayrton Senna. Utilizing archival footage, including never-before-seen race footage, the film expl...

Jonathan Eigs definitive biography of Martin Luther King Jr., 'King: A Life,' draws on newly available FBI files and personal documents to offer a nuanced and complex portrait of the iconic civil righ...

Robert Caros biography of Robert Moses is arguably the most important book ever written about the exercise of political power in America. It details how Moses, an unelected official, shaped the physic...

This Pulitzer Prize-winning biography is the first volume in a planned trilogy about Theodore Roosevelt, and it's a masterpiece of historical storytelling. Morris vividly portrays Roosevelt's early li...

This documentary serves as a powerful memoir and urgent call to action from legendary naturalist David Attenborough. He recounts his life's work witnessing the Earth's beauty and documenting its decl...

Raging Bull is a brutal, unflinching portrait of middleweight boxer Jake LaMotta. Shot in stark, high-contrast black and white, the film focuses less on the sport of boxing and more on the self-destru...

Based on James Baldwin's unfinished manuscript 'Remember This House,' 'I Am Not Your Negro' is a poignant and deeply personal exploration of race in America. Narrated by Baldwin's voice, the film weav...

Werner Herzog uses the actual footage shot by Timothy Treadwell, a man who lived among grizzly bears in Alaska before being killed by one, to create a haunting meditation on nature and human obsession...

David McCulloughs biography of John Adams brought renewed attention to a pivotal figure in American history. The book meticulously details Adamss life, from his role in the American Revolution to his...

Ron Chernows 'Grant' is a monumental effort to rehabilitate the reputation of Ulysses S. Grant. Often remembered for the scandals of his presidency or his drinking, Grant is revealed here as a brillia...

This three-part docuseries explores the mind of Bill Gates as he tackles some of the world's most complex problems, including sanitation, climate change, and disease eradication. While it is a biograp...

This documentary provides a raw and unflinching look at the life of Nina Simone, one of the most influential and complex artists of the 20th century. Using rare footage and personal diaries, the film...

Walter Salles' 2004 film chronicles the 1952 motorcycle journey of Ernesto 'Che' Guevara and Alberto Granado across South America. The film portrays their evolving political consciousness and their en...

While not a traditional biography, this seminal work offers a profound biographical understanding of the Jim Crow era and the individuals who shaped it. Woodward's analysis challenges conventional nar...

Released posthumously in 1991, 'El Cantante' is a poignant tribute to the life and career of Héctor Lavoe, a salsa legend. The album features previously unreleased recordings and showcases Lavoes extr...

Martin Gilberts biography of Winston Churchill is widely considered the most comprehensive and authoritative account of the British Prime Minister. Gilbert, who served as Churchills official biographe...

This is the first fully authorized documentary on Kurt Cobain, featuring unprecedented access to his personal archives, including home movies, journals, and unreleased recordings. The film uses creati...

McQueen (2018) is a poignant and intimate portrait of the brilliant and troubled fashion designer Alexander McQueen. The film explores his extraordinary creative vision, his groundbreaking runway show...

The Truest Art is a compelling documentary exploring the life and career of singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins, delving into his struggles with addiction and his journey to reclaim his artistic voice. Th...

Claire Tomalins biography of Virginia Woolf is widely considered the definitive account of the celebrated authors life. The book explores Woolfs complex family relationships, her struggles with mental...

This documentary tells the tragic and beautiful story of Daniel Johnston, a brilliant outsider musician and artist who struggled with severe mental illness. The film uses his own home movies and music...

A fictionalized biopic of the man who trained Bruce Lee. Set during the Japanese occupation of China, the film showcases the efficiency and beauty of Wing Chun. Donnie Yen delivers a career-defining p...

This captivating book intertwines the stories of Daniel Burnham, the architect behind the 1893 Chicago Worlds Fair, and H.H. Holmes, a notorious serial killer who used the fair to lure his victims. La...

Ron Chernows 'Washington: A Life' is a definitive, Pulitzer Prize-winning biography that strips away the marble-statue image of George Washington to reveal a passionate, complex, and deeply human lead...

William Manchesters three-volume biography of Winston Churchill is a literary triumph. It captures the grandeur and the grit of Churchills life, from his Victorian upbringing to his final days. Manche...

This visually stunning documentary tells the story of Katia and Maurice Krafft, a French volcanologist couple who spent their lives chasing eruptions and capturing some of the most spectacular footage...

Michelle Obama's memoir, 'Becoming,' offers a deeply personal and relatable account of her life, from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as First Lady. The book is written in a co...

This documentary series provides a behind-the-scenes look at the making of 'The Last Dance,' focusing on the production process and the challenges faced by the filmmakers. It offers unique insights in...

Wallace Stegner's 'Angle of Repose,' the 1972 National Book Award winner, is a complex and richly layered novel that interweaves the story of a modern historian with the life of his pioneering grandpa...

Neil Sheehan's 'A Bright Shining Lie' is a Pulitzer Prize-winning biography of John Paul Vann, a U.S. Army advisor in Vietnam. The book examines Vann's career and his increasingly critical perspective...

Wallace Stegner's 'Angle of Repose' (1971) is a sprawling, multi-layered novel that interweaves the story of a modern man with the biography of his pioneering grandparents in the American West. Stegne...

This biography of John Charles Fremont, a renowned explorer and military figure, offers a fascinating glimpse into the American West during the 19th century. Bowen details Fremont's expeditions, his p...

This PBS documentary series adapts Benjamin Franklins autobiography, bringing his life and accomplishments to life through historical reenactments, expert commentary, and archival materials. It explor...

Robert Caros magnum opus is widely regarded as the greatest biography of the 20th century. It chronicles the life of Robert Moses, the unelected official who shaped modern New York City through sheer...

Bernardo Bertoluccis sweeping epic chronicles the life of Puyi, the final Emperor of China, from his ascent to the throne as a toddler to his life as a common citizen under the Communist regime. The f...

Siddhartha Mukherjees Pulitzer Prize-winning 'biography' of cancer is a monumental achievement. He traces the history of the disease from its first recorded mentions in ancient Egypt to the modern era...

Ann Rule, a former police officer and experienced crime writer, found herself working alongside Ted Bundy at a crisis hotline while he was actively committing his horrific crimes. This book is a chill...

Tetris tells the incredible true story of Henk Rogers, a Dutch game designer, and his quest to bring the iconic puzzle game Tetris to the world. Set against the backdrop of the Cold War, the film blen...

This documentary series explores the life and legacy of Muhammad Ali, covering his boxing career, political activism, and personal struggles. It features interviews with family members, friends, and o...

Nicholas Dawidoff's biography of Johnny Cash offers a nuanced and insightful portrait of the iconic country singer. Dawidoff delves into Cash's personal struggles, his musical influences, and his impa...

The Elephant Man is a poignant and deeply moving biographical drama about Joseph Merrick, a man with severe physical deformities. Lynch's direction emphasizes Merrick's humanity and dignity, contrasti...

While not a traditional biography, this work provides profound biographical insights into three of England's greatest poets: Coleridge, Wordsworth, and Yeats. Holmes explores their lives, their creati...